The Brisbane Racing Club has announced an initiative aimed at attracting Australasia’s best racehorses to Queensland for the 2012winter carnival.

The initiative, which is being jointly funded by the Queensland Government through Events Queensland, and the BRC will see the race entry fees and travel expenses covered for select horses invited to compete in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks and Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.

Horses become eligible for the invitational scheme if they win select sprint legs or Oaks races in Australasia in the lead up to the 2012 Brisbane Carnival.

This initiative will see the winners of Australasian sprints including the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington on March 10, the T.J. Smith Stakes at Royal Randwick on April 14, The Goodwood at Morphettville on May 12 and the Telegraph Handicap at Trentham Racecourse, New Zealand on Saturday, January 21 invited to Brisbane.

The three-year-old staying fillies winners in the New Zealand Oaks 2400m on March 17, the WA Oaks at Ascot on March 31, the ATC Oaks on April 21 and the Australasian Oaks 2000m at Morphettville on May 12 will be invited to Brisbane.

Eligible horses so far include the Paul Messara-trained Ortensia (2011 Winterbottom Stakes Winner) and the Robert Smerdon-trained Mosheen (2011 VRC Oaks Winner).

The $1 million Stradbroke will be run on June 9 with the $400,000 Queensland Oaks run the week earlier. Both events are conducted at Eagle Farm Racecourse.

THE first crop progeny of American superhorse Big Brown defied trends at the one day Fasig Tipton July Yearling sale in Lexington Kentucky. (more…)

In a major coup for Victorian breeders, Danzero has been returned to Victoria, where he was trained and where he stood during the early part of his breeding career. (more…)

Over the many years I’ve been consulting to the horse industry, the NSW industry has easily been our greatest growth region – in fact I now consider myself an “honorary” New South Welshman, given how much time I now spend up there!

Accordingly, it’s always a pleasure to get up to Sydney and update the industry on the “hot topics” in horse taxation. After taking a much needed year off from doing the MM seminar in QLD, I’ll be “trained to the minute” for 21 June @ Inglis! (more…)

Mr Trevor Lobb has been appointed the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Emirates Park. (more…)

Wednesday night saw the 2011 Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association Annual Awards held at Scone Racecourse.

Freezing weather welcomed guest early in the evening but the marquee was warm and toasty inside. (more…)

COME TO SOUTH AFRICA

With the

S.A. THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS  2011 TOUR (more…)

The Bart Cummings stable has advised Racing Victoria stewards that 2009 Crown Oaks winner Faint Perfume has been retired after failing to recapture her three-year-old form. (more…)

Former jockey and now Group-winning trainer Pat Webster has joined Racing NSW’s Industry Training Department. (more…)

The Queensland Racehorse Owners Card scheme will conclude at the end of March as a push for an Australian Racehorse Owners’ Card gains momentum. (more…)

The Australian Stud Book would like to issue a reminder to breeders that all foals and weanlings should be freeze branded in sufficient time for their brands to be discernible by the 31st March of their first year of life. (more…)

Damon Gabbedy’s Belmont Bloodstock Agency has enjoyed good success of late with two of its purchases winning stakes races in the space of a week. (more…)

Following a recommendation from the Australian Pattern Committee (APC) the Australian
Racing Board has elevated the Canberra Guineas into the black type listing. (more…)

Coolmore Australia have announced the addition of 5-time Grade 1 winner Lookin At Lucky to it’s roster for the 2011 Australasian breeding season. (more…)

The Melbourne Festival of Racing at Flemington breaks out of the barriers with Coolmore Lightning Stakes Day at Flemington on Saturday. (more…)

Emirates Airline and the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) have announced a new sponsorship agreement that will see the two organisations working closely together to grow the event’s international profile. (more…)

After landing two marquee races during this season’s Melbourne Cup Carnival, New Zealand trainers have turned their focus to winning the $1m Dubai Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on 12 March. (more…)

First acceptances for next month’s $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington have increased to a five-year high despite the daunting prospect of a clash with World Champion Black Caviar. (more…)

With still two races left in the 2011 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, a standout performance by three-year-old filly King’s Rose in Group 2 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (2000m) put pay to her rivals around the country as she secured an unassailable lead in the Series and the prestigious Filly of the Year crown. (more…)

At carnival time it is usual for a lot of the breeding attention to centre on the international conglomerates, so it is refreshing when one of the lesser-resourced players of Australian breeding takes its place on centre stage. (more…)